519grandprix

I'm just getting so tired of this.
01 Grand Prix, stock head unit.

Yes, i know i should get an aftermarket head unit, but i don't want one.
I have one of those crappy scosche line out converters from walmart, and two rca's running to my amp, opposite side of the car than the power wire.

I have mild alternator whine all of the time, a loud buzz whenever the headlights are on, and a VERY loud buzz whenever the interior lights dim. There's also accessory pop, for example when i touch the brake pedal (i assume this is from the brake lights coming on)

I tried grounding the line out converter to the head unit ground, no help.

If i unplug the RCA's from the converter, which is in the glove box, the buzz goes away. The noise is primarily in the front two speakers. So i bought a new stinger RCA cable for the fronts, the problem got worse.

I then went and bought a stinger LOC for the front two channels, and it got worse, grounded the new converter, about the same noise as the scosche.

I'm confident in my amp ground, and I haven't really touched the stock head unit ground.

HELP, I'm running out of things to try.

In advance, thank you for all of your audio-guru help.

519grandprix

I should probably add that the noise is always present with the headlights on, even if the stereo is turned off.

Dukk

Try eliminating the LOC altogether. Lots of amps now have enough gain attenuation in them to take high level inputs right into the RCAs. For example, MTX doesn't even have separate high level inputs on their amps anymore, they just include RCAs with speaker wire in the box.

519grandprix

So to put this in my relatively audio-green language, I need to score some wire with speaker wire on one end, rca's on the other? Could I just make these? My amp's a tad old, MTX Thunder 405.

Dukk

That's right. You can take a spare RCA cable and cut the ends off one end. Center pin goes to speaker+, outer ring goes to speaker-

You can even try it temporarily. Just disconnect the speaker wires from the LOC and solder/tape them onto the RCA ends. Remember to turn your amp gains down first though.

Westec

iTrader: (1)

On the stinger LOC piece, is it the silver "box" style? If so did you use the ground wire on the 5 pin connector?

519grandprix

It's the cheaper 'fixed level' converter, no ***** or anything. Kinda boxy...